The band spent its first four years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which they released two studio albums, The Unraveling (2001) and Revolutions per Minute (2003). Both the albums were met with underground success, and in 2003 the band signed with the major label Dreamworks, which was absorbed by Geffen. Rise Against's major label debut Siren Song of the Counter Culture (2004) brought the band mainstream success, largely in part to the popularity of the singles "Give It All" and "Swing Life Away". The band's next album, The Sufferer & the Witness (2006), peaked at number ten on the Billboard 200 in the United States, and was Rise Against's first album to chart in countries outside of North America.
With the release of Appeal to Reason (2008), Rise Against's music shifted toward a more accessible and radio-friendly sound, with greater emphasis on production value. The album's third single, "Savior", broke the record for the most consecutive weeks spent on both the Hot Rock Songs and Alternative Songs charts. Rise Against's popularity grew with the release of Endgame (2011), which peaked at number two on the Billboard 200, and charted highly worldwide. The band's seventh and eighth albums, The Black Market (2014) and Wolves (2017) continued the trend of commercial success, and both peaked with the top ten on the Billboard 200. Their ninth and most recent album, Nowhere Generation, was released in 2021.
Rise Against is also known for their advocacy of progressivism, supporting organizations such as Amnesty International and the It Gets Better Project. The band actively promotes animal rights and most of the members are straight edge, PETA supporters and vegetarians.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rise_Against
Studio albums
The Unraveling (2001)
Revolutions per Minute (2003)
Siren Song of the Counter Culture (2004)
The Sufferer & the Witness (2006)
Appeal to Reason (2008)
Endgame (2011)
The Black Market (2014)
Wolves (2017)
Nowhere Generation (2021)
Obstructed
Rise Against Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think you can fuck yourself
From your safe distance in this crowd
That's when your voice becomes so loud
Still trying to keep us down
Walk one mile in shoes I never asked to fill
But still I press on...
I slipped, I fell, then I lost everything
My hope, my faith, in what the future brings
In hopes of pushing past the ties that keeps us down
We sing together now.
Give me one reason to look you in the eye
Tell me exactly why it is that you think you are worth my time
To all the ones that shakes my hand
Then talk your shit behind my back
To those who claim they understand
But never heard a word of what I said
In spite of you I am still here
This vision has never been more clear
As we sing together now.
In "Obstructed" by Rise Against, the band calls out people who think they know what the band is about and are standing proud from a safe distance in a crowd. The lyrics express frustration towards those who try to keep the band down and prevent them from pushing past the ties that hold them back. The song also touches on the idea of mistrust and individuals who shake hands, only to then talk negatively behind the band's back.
The opening verse is a direct call-out to those who think they know the band's intentions and message. It highlights the idea that these individuals may be quick to judge and dismiss the band from a distance but would never take the time to truly understand them. The chorus reflects the band's perseverance through hardship and their ability to push forward despite slipping, falling, and losing everything. In contrast to those who try to keep them down, the band sings together with the power of unity.
The second verse focuses on the band's skepticism towards those who claim to understand their message but fail to listen or comprehend their words. The band is frustrated by individuals who talk about them behind their backs and have proven themselves to be untrustworthy. Despite these challenges, the band reaffirms their commitment to their vision and their music, and their belief in the power of unity to bring them forward.
Line by Line Meaning
To all you people standing proud, thinking you know what I'm about:
I have no respect for people who judge me without knowing me and assume they understand me based on appearances.
From your safe distance in this crowd
You feel safe in your crowd because you know you won't have to face me one on one.
That's when your voice becomes so loud
When you're hiding amongst your people, you feel powerful enough to speak up against me.
Still trying to keep us down
You're still trying to keep me down because you know I'm a threat to your power and control over others.
Walk one mile in shoes I never asked to fill
If you truly understood the struggles and hardships I've faced, you would think twice before judging me.
But still I press on...
Despite the obstacles and setbacks I've faced, I continue to persevere and push forward.
I slipped, I fell, then I lost everything
I've experienced failure and loss, which has made me stronger and more resilient.
My hope, my faith, in what the future brings
Despite everything I've been through, I still have hope and faith that the future holds something better for me.
In hopes of pushing past the ties that keeps us down
I'm fighting to overcome the societal and cultural barriers that keep us from achieving our full potential.
We sing together now.
We're united in our struggles and we will continue to fight for our rights and freedoms.
Give me one reason to look you in the eye
If you have something genuine to say and are willing to listen to me, I'll consider having a conversation with you.
Tell me exactly why it is that you think you are worth my time
I'm not interested in wasting my time with someone who doesn't respect me or my struggles.
To all the ones that shakes my hand
To those who pretend to be supportive and friendly to my face.
Then talk your shit behind my back
But then speak ill of me and try to undermine my efforts when I'm not around.
To those who claim they understand
To those who act like they empathize with me and my experiences.
But never heard a word of what I said
But never truly listen to or comprehend my struggles and perspectives.
In spite of you I am still here
Despite the opposition and criticism of others, I'm still fighting and standing my ground.
This vision has never been more clear
My goals and aspirations are more focused and determined than ever before.
As we sing together now.
As a community, we must raise our voices together and fight for the change we want to see.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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